Game apparatus



Aug. 2, 1927, 1,637,517

B. A. BRISTOW GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov 28, 1925 INVENTUR g wg Patented Aug. 2, 1927. 7

- UNITED oerce.

finance a. Bnrsrom or rononro, oN'r'Anro, canine, nssrenon or, oun-rnrnn 'r'o ALLEN cnAuBEapAm NDfONE- IBD To. UPLE A- R' TO BO H ammo, CANADA- L GAME 7 whe Application 'filed n ve ber 23,1925. seam No. 72,021.

Thisinvention'relates to game apparatus I ofthetype in which one or more indicating devices are arranged to be actuated by a ball, niarble oi the like rolledalong the surface on which the apparatus stands. l *My' object in the presentinvention is to devise a novel arrangement of supporting and tripping the indicating devices. A further object is to providespecial means for reducing the efi'ectof the impact of, the ball againstthe apparatus, and also to provide neans'for assisting in preventing the escape 'ofcballs. s I v a I attain my objects by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which I k Fig. 1 is aperspective proved gameapparatus; Fig.2 a'similar view of part of my apparatu'sshowing a modification; I I

1 Fig. 3 a plan View showing a further modiview of my Jimiication of my apparatus; and

y Fig' 4a a detail in side elevation of part of the apparatus; 1 i i I Iii the drawings like numerals of refer I eneeindic ate corresponding partsin the different figures. i

1 is a base adapted to rest on a-table,

fioor, pavement or other surface. This base,

I is shown as awall of U- f orrn in plan.' I

" i 3 is a frame comprising a pair of uprights connected at their upper ends by a cross bar. The lower ends of the uprights are received in eyes formed at the ends of the legs of h b se- The pa 1 .fl dfB for- I th i ijcator support.

Inthe form shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of indicator devices 4 are pivoted on the cross b ar 'otthe frame 3. Also pivot-ally connected with the cross bar are a plurality of sup porting and tripping levers 5 one for each indicator device. The upper end of each lever is forked and the indicat ng device is positioned in the recess sofformed. Each indicating device wlllnorrnally occupy a set position with its rear part supported vby the lever, but its pivot point isso positioned that a sharp knock against the lower end of theleverwill unbalanceit and cause it to .tip

'iorwardly and downwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. {l to its trippedwposii tion. There being no connection between the g p The base, as before ,stated will usually gleverand the indicating device, the lever may return to its normal position without the'indicating' device. i

Preferably the levers will be of such a length that their free ends rest on the floor with the lever lying at an angle of approxi- I mately thirty-five degrees to the surface of the floor. The particular angle,-however, is i not important, nor is it absolutely necessary thatthe endofthe lever actually touch the floor; as in the latter case it wouldorequire only a slightvariation in the construction of the lever to support the indicatingdevice in set position; I

The apparatus is used by placing the inclicatingdevices'in set position as indicated in full lines, then rolling marbles or balls along the surface of the floor in an endeavor to hitthe levers and'cause the latter to throw "the'indicating devices to tripped position I as indicated in dotted lines.

The cross bar of the -frame 3 may be made of any formysuch, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the indicating devices will be arranged in staggeredrelationship to one another. A f

A further modification is shown in Fig. 2, in which the levers and indicating devices are pivoted on a secondary bar 6 swingably supported from the cross bar of the frame. It is evident that this secondary bar 6 may be-made of any form. such. for example, as the shape of the cross bar in Fig. 3. An advantage derivedfrom the mounting of the indicating devices and levers on the swi.n'g-. ably supported secondary bar 111' that movetendencyof the impact. of the balls on the walltrippingtheindicators. I I 3 A similar result may be attained by placing .aguard within but spaced from the wall, and this guard may be connected with the wall by one'or more springs 8 or other resilient means tending to 'yieldingly hold theguard in proper position.

In a preferred form both of these shock absorbing devices may be employed as the guard. device tends to prevent the displaceinentof the apparatus as a whole as well as dicators.

preventing the accidental tripping of the inbe formed as wall U-shaped in form, and

thefguard or bumper 7 will similarly shaped. There will be a tendency for the balls or marbles to follow the side of the guard and escapethrough the opening of the U; I thereforeiiorm the guard with incurved ends 2 which tend to prevent the escapeof balls. The ends of the guard will preferably extend out beyond theends ot the base 1 so as to shield the said ends from being struck with the balls or marbles and thuszremoving the danger of tipping-the indicators. It willfbe evident-that many changes in the details of construction-may be made in -my apparatus without departing from the spirit of my invention. lVhat I claim is:

- 1. In game apparatus, the combination of a supporting bar; an indicator, pivoted o n said bar whereby it may occupy a set;pos1- tion, or a trippedv position; and'a depending lever also pivoted on said bar, said indicator, when the lever independent. of the indicator is rocked, being adapted to be engaged by the lever and thus moved from set to tripped position. 7

2. In game-apparatus, the combination of a support; an indicator plvoted on said support whereby it may occupy a set position or a tripped position; and a depending lever pivotally connected with said support,

said indicator when in set position resting I on the lever, but adapted to be r moved, to

the tripped position by said lever when the latter is rocked. r

3; In game apparatus, the combination of a supportincluding a swingably mounted member; an indicator pivoted on said memberwhereby it may occupy a set position or a trippedposition; and a depending lever pivotally connected with said member,

said indicator, when in set position, resting on the lever, but adapted to be moved to the trippedposition byrsaid lever when the latter is rocked. o

p 4. In game apparatus, the combination of lever, but adapted, when the lever'is rocked,

to move to tripped position. e 5. In -game apparatus, the combination of a support; a plurality of indicators, independently pivoted on said support whereby each may occupy a set position or a tripped"position; and a plurality'of idepending leversfpivotally connected with said support, each of said indicators when in) set position resting on a lever, but adapted to bemoved by its lever totripped position when said lever is rocked. i

6. In game apparatus, the combination of a support; anin'dicator pivoted intermediate its ends on said support whereby it may occupy a set position with its weight mainly at one side of the axis on which it moves, ora tripped position with its weight mainly on the other side of the axis on which it moves; and a depending lever pivotally connectedwith said support, said lever when rocked while the indicator is in set position being adapted to move the latter a suificient'distance to over-balance it so that 1 it will move to the tripped position.

7. 111 game apparatus, the combination of a support; an indicator pivoted on said support whereby it may occupy a set position or a vtripped position; a depending lever pivotally connected with said support, said lever being adapted to be rocked by a game piece rolled along the surface on whichthe apparatus stands, said indicator when the lever is rocked being adapted to move from set to tripped posit-ion; a U-shaped wall forming the base of said support; and a U- shaped bumper within and spaced froma-nd movable relative tosaid U-shaped wall, the

ends of the legs of said'U-shaped bumper beingiormed with inwardly directed hooks adapted to prevent the escape of a game piece travelling in contact with the bumper.

'8. In game apparatus, the combination of a support; an indicatorpivoted on said support whereby it may occupyia set position or a trippedposition; a depending lever pivotally connected with said support, said indicator when the lever is t, rocked being adaptedto move from set to tripped position, said lever. being adapted to be rocked by a gamepiece rolled along the surface on which the apparatus stands; a wall connected with said support; and a bumper spaced from movable relative to the wall and adapted to take the shock of the game piece from said wall.

9. In game apparatus,'the combination of a support; an indicator pivoted on said support "whereby it ina yoc'cupy a set position or a tripped posit on; a dependinglever pivotally connected with said support, I said indicator'fwhe'ii 'the lever is rocked being adapted to movetrom set to-tripped position, said "lever; bein'g adapted to be *roclred'by a game piece rolled along the surface on which the apparatus stands; a wall connected wlth'fsa d' support; 'a bumper spaced from' and adapted to take the shock of the game piece from said wall; and re 'esilient positioning means between said wall and bumper. p l

'10. In game apparatus, the combination of a support including a swingably mounted member;ianfindicator pivoted on said memberlwhereb'y it may occupy a set position or af tripped position; adependlng lever pivotally connected with said member,

said indicator, when in set position, being supported by the lever, but'adapted, when the lever is rocked, to move to tripped position; a wall connected with said sup port; abumper spaced from and adapted,

to take the shock of the game piece from said wall; and resilient means between said wall and bumper. I

11. In game apparatus, the combination of a support including a swingably mounted member; an indicator pivoted onsaid mem ber whereby it may occupy a set position or a tripped position; a depending lever pivotallyconnected with said member, said indicator,when in set position, being supported by the lever, but adapted, when the lever is rocked, to move to tripped position; a wall connected wit-hasaid support;

and a bumper spaced from and adapted to 20 take the shock of the game piece from said I wall, the ends of said bumper extending beyond the ends of the wall.

12. In game apparatus, the combination ported by the lever, but adapted, when the,

lever. isrocked, to move to tripped posi-- tion; and a U-shaped bumper spaced from and adapted to take the shock of the game piece from said wall, the ends of said bumper extending beyond the ends of the wall and formed with inwardly directed ends.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this eighteenth day of November, 1925.

' :BRUoE A. BRISTOW. 

